University of Melbourne residential scholarship helps pay bills

HELPING HAND: Scholarship recipient Trent Williamson hopes to become an agronomist and specialise in sustainable farming practices and water management.

University of Melbourne agriculture student Trent Williamson has just completed his first year of study, thanks to the support of the William Buckland Foundation Residential Scholarship Program.

Trent, who grew up in Wodonga, says his favourite subjects so far have been Animal and Plant Production Systems along with Agriculture in Australia.

He hopes to one day become an agronomist and specialise in sustainable farming practices and water management.

As he heads into his second year in 2019, Trent thanked the foundation for making his university life affordable.

“This scholarship has alleviated the stresses of balancing full-time study, part-time work and the ever-busy college life and removed the financial strain away from not just myself but also my family, who have strongly supported my decision to move to Melbourne to further my education,” he said.

The William Buckland Foundation Residential Scholarship Program seeks to assist students from rural and regional Victoria to complete studies in Agriculture and Land Management.

Established in 2014, it is awarded by the foundation in conjunction with University of Melbourne colleges to provide residential support for undergraduates.

The scholarship can assist students with accommodation expenses during their three years of study.

It has a total value of at least $40,000 over three years and up to three scholarships are available in 2019.

The total value of the scholarship depends on which college offer the student accepts.

Payments for the scholarship are made as yearly payments. Year one of $20,000 is paid over two semesters; year two of $12,000 is paid in semester one, and year three of $12,000 is paid in semester one.

To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be a citizen or permanent resident; be starting full-time university in 2019 for the first time (having not completed prior university studies at any other institution); apply for and accept an offer to live at a residential college of the university in 2019, and demonstrate they are from a disadvantaged financial background, among other criteria.

Postcodes will be used to assess rural status.

Eligible applicants will also be assessed on academic ability.

Students can submit a personal statement which reflects on their experiences to date and the potential impact of the scholarship, and highlight other supporting information.

Preference will be given to students from the Mansfield area in Victoria when all other factors are equal.

Students must maintain a pass grade average throughout their studies, and promote the university through contributing to college life.

Applications for 2019 will open in December.

Send your name and email address to fvas-scholarships@unimelb.edu.au to register your interest.